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YADKINVILLE — The annual Yadkin-Davie 4-H Livestock Show was held on Saturday at the Lone Hickory Arena on Bethel Church Road in Yadkinville with local youth in five North Carolina counties showcasing their animals and expertise in handling.

Participants from Yadkin, Davie, Surry, Stokes and Alexander counties demonstrated knowledge they have learned from 4-H projects when caring for and feeding animals.

Phil Rucker, North Carolina Cooperative Extension agent for Yadkin and Davie counties, said in the annual contest kids learn responsibility by having animals to care for; work ethic; animal nutrition; sportsmanship; and hopefully a way to make some extra money.

Rucker said, “We like this show, it is a nice laid-back, family event.” He said it is a way for kids to get involved in areas that are meaningful and provides alternatives.

For anyone interested in getting involved, Rucker said to call the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Agency and they will get kids to the respective 4-H leaders. The Yadkin number is 336-676-2061 and the Surry number is 336-401-8025, said Rucker.

Lenuel and wife Sandy Chamberlain, owners of Lone Hickory Arena, said the show was especially valuable to them because it is a fulfillment of a plan. Lenuel said “God and kids is what it was built for.”

Sandy Chamberlain said, “It is amazing how many children have never seen a lamb or a goat, God can use everybody.” Pastor of the Arena, Eddie Totherow, attends all the events and holds services in the arena in between weekly events and performances for the “cowboy culture,” he said.

The first event ever held in the arena was “Cowgirls With a Cause” to raise money for breast cancer. On Saturday, cowgirls and cowboys in their earliest toddlers years participated in the arena.

Tommy Shore of Shore Farms and a member of the board of directors of the Yadkin-Davie 4-H Livestock Association presented Lenuel Chamberlain an award that recognized “his generosity and support of livestock and agricultural youth programs” at the shows opening.

Celicia Tadt of Alexander County received best project book, several first places and Grand Champion status in showmanship while at the show. Judges called her book, one of the most complete they had seen.

After Tadt won grand champion in showmanship with lamb, “Beast Mode Cowboy” a Hampshire Suffolk Cross, she said, “I expected it with that lamb.”

Celicia’s mother, Nicole Tadt, is also a 4-H organizer and leader. She said her daughter has sought to follow in her brothers footsteps who showed with a grand champion status at the state fair until the age of 18. In the process, Tadt said her daughter, Cecilia, has excelled in learning the skills involved with livestock and is caring for animals in the barn early morning every day. Nicole Tadt said learning responsibility, the importance of record keeping and why one raises an animal to care for or to eat is important.

She said skills and time involved learning through 4-H programs provides kids an outlet away from drugs and alcohol. It gives opportunities for youth who love animals and/or the cowboy or cowgirl culture to participate whether they live in city or country, or whether or not they have a farm. She called it a way to spend time together as a family and friends while doing something meaningful.

Kindergartner Grant Smith, after a lamb showing, asked when when he could earn some money. Sister Olivia Smith said she learned how to hold a lamb properly. Teaching by officials and Judge Ed Birdsell is part of the show experience.